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♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WELL, THE WORLD KEEPS SPINNING, ANOTHER EARTH DAY AND WITH WORLD LEADERS GATHERING TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN JERSEY, BOTH GOOD AND BAD, TO OUR PLANET.

MORE ON THAT IN A BIT.

PLUS A DISCUSSION ON THE STATUS AND FUTURE OF OUR HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD COLONY, PUERTO RICO.

BUT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE GUILTY VERDICT IN MINNEAPOLIS, STILL REVERBERATING AROUND THE WORLD.

RELIEF ON ONE HAND AND OUTRAGE ON THE OTHER AS MORE POLICE ENCOUNTERS SINCE THE VERDICT HAVE RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF MORE YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE.

JOINING US THIS WEEK TO TALK MANUFACTURE ABOUT THIS IS RYAN HAYGOOD, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

RYAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> SO, WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE MIXED FEELINGS SURROUNDING THE VERDICT.

ON THE ONE HAND, RELIEF THAT THE JURY SEEMED TO GET IT RIGHT.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, SADNESS THAT IT TOOK A VIDEO LIKE THE ONE THAT WE SAW TO GET THAT VERDICT, KNOWING THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER ENCOUNTERS ARE NOT CAPTURED ON VIDEO.

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN FEELING BOTH OF THOSE, I IMAGINE.

>> I WAS, DAVID.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE -- THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER WAS EXTRAORDINARY AND THAT TO YOUR POINT, IT WAS CAPTURED.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE -- I HAVE BEEN HEAVY-HEARTED FOR THE LAST YEAR WHEN YOU SEE THE VIDEO OF A GROWN MAN, WHO'S LITERALLY HAVING THE LIFE CRUSHED OUT OF HIM, AND HE'S SO REDUCED THAT HE CALLS ON HIS MOTHER, WHO HAS PASSED, RIGHT?

HE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BUT TO CALL ON HIS MOTHER, WHO WASN'T AROUND, AND WHAT'S REALLY FASCINATING, DAVID, ABOUT THAT CASE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE VIDEO EVIDENCE WAS COMPELLING, THERE WASN'T A REAL CASE TO BE MADE IN DEFENSE ON FORMER OFFICER CHAUVIN'S CRIMINAL ACT, THERE WAS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE JURY WOULD DO, AND THAT UNCERTAINTY, IN LIGHT OF THIS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF MURDER, I THINK, SPEAKS TO THE REAL ISSUES WE HAVE WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MORE BROADLY.

THAT IN THIS MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE WHERE THE EVIDENCE COULDN'T BE MORE COMPELLING, WE STILL WEREN'T SURE IF THE JURY WOULD GO THE WAY THAT IT ULTIMATELY WENT, AND THAT, TO YOUR POINT, DAVID, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN IT GO A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" RECENTLY REPORTED THAT SINCE 2005, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 7 CONVICTIONS OF MURDER FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO KILLED FOLKS.

THAT IS, BY THEIR OWN ESTIMATE, 1 IN 2,000.

SO IT'S EXCEEDINGLY RARE TO SEE HAVE HAPPEN WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT JUSTICE VERSUS ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOW ONLY ONE OF THOSE WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS VERDICT.

YOU SHARED THAT STARTLING STATISTIC.

YOU KNOW, 1 IN 2,000 CONVICTION RATE.

SO I MEAN, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE JURY NOT SEEING A VIDEO OR NOT LIKING THE VICTIM.

A LOT OF TIMES, THE POLICE ARE EXONERATED BY DEPARTMENT POLICIES THAT ALLOW FOR THE USE OF CHOKEHOLDS OR OTHER COMPRESSION TACTICS.

THIS IS SOMETHING LAWMAKERS NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HERE IN SUPPOSEDLY PROGRESSIVE NEW JERSEY, HOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN SITTING ON ITS HANDS OVER IMPORTANT BILLS MEANT TO DEAL WITH THIS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, DAVID.

AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT I'M 45 YEARS OLD.

I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN RODNEY KING WAS BRUTALIZED.

NOW 30 YEARS AGO.

AND THAT, TOO, WAS CAPTURED ON THAT OLD-SCHOOL VERSION OF THE CAMCORDER.

YOU REMEMBER THAT.

>> YES.

>> AND 30 YEARS LATER, WE'RE HAVING A VERY SIMILAR CONVERSATION, SO TO YOUR POINT, LEGAL JUSTICE WAS ACHIEVED IN THE JURY'S RULING, BUT REAL JUSTICE WOULD MEAN THAT MR. FLOYD WOULD STILL BE ALIVE, AND HE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HIS KIDS GROW UP WITH HIM AND HE WOULD SEE HIS GRANDKIDS AND HE WOULD DO SO MUCH MORE, BUT HE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE HE WAS MURDERED BY FORMER OFFICER CHAUVIN.

BUT HE WAS ALSO MURDERED BY A, I THINK, A BROADER SYSTEM OF POLICING THAT HAS A REAL CHALLENGE WITH STRUCTURAL RACISM.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT -- WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A FEW BAD APPLES.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO POLICING IS AN ORCHARD OF POISON TREES THAT ARE DISEASED AT THE ROOT AND THEY ARE PRODUCING, BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE THAT REINFORCES THEM, TOO OFTEN POISONOUS, DEADLY RESULTS, AND SO FOR US, I THINK THE CONVERSATION REALLY HAS TO BE, GEORGE FLOYD IS NOT OUT THERE.

GEORGE FLOYD IS NOT JUST MINNESOTA.

IT'S NOT OTHER STATES.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS A CAUTIONARY TALE, TO YOUR POINT, DAVID, ABOUT WHAT DOES NEW JERSEY NEED TO DO TO FINALLY BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY INTO POLICING?

A PROFESSION THAT FOR TOO LONG HAS BEEN LARGELY ACCOUNTABILITY-FREE.

>> THERE ARE SOME BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW, CONCERNING CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD, THE USE OF CHOKEHOLDS, QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE ALL JUST LANGUISHING IN THE LEGISLATURE IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> AND SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT WE HAVE -- WE DID NOT -- WE DO NOT WANT GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH TO BE IN VAIN.

IF THERE'S A LESSON TO LEARN, IT'S THAT EVERY STATE, THERE CERTAINLY HAD TO BE A FEDERAL RESPONSE BUT EVERY STATE OUGHT TO BE BUILDING THE KIND OF SYSTEM OF POLICING WITH ACCOUNTABILITY THAT PROTECTS AGAINST A GEORGE FLOYD BEING MURDERED BY POLICE AND THEIR STATES.

AND TO YOUR POINT, DAVID, SINCE HIS PASSING, SINCE MR. FLOYD'S PASSING A YEAR AGO, NEW JERSEY HAS DONE PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS LITTLE IN THE AREA OF POLICING.

RIGHT AFTER MR. FLOYD WAS MURDERED, WE WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS TO GET A BILL INTRODUCED THAT WOULD BAN CHOKEHOLDS IN NEW JERSEY.

VERY LOW LIST.

THAT BILL, TO YOUR POINT, IT HASN'T MOVED.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THERE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A CITIZEN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD, AND THEN CAME AN INTRODUCTION OF A BILL THAT WOULD DO AWAY WITH QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

THIS IS REALLY THE HEART OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS THAT THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE OF IMMUNITY FROM THEIR MISCONDUCT.

AND THERE'S NO OTHER PROFESSION QUITE LIKE IT.

DAVID, YOU'RE A JOURNALIST.

I'M A LAWYER.

IF OUR CONDUCT FALLS BENEATH A CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL STANDARD, THERE ARE REAL CONSEQUENCES, AND PROFESSIONS ARE MADE BETTER BY ACCOUNTABILITY.

I KNOW A NUMBER OF VERY GOOD POLICE OFFICERS WHO THEMSELVES WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT INTO THEIR PROFESSION.

SO, NEW JERSEY HAS A REAL DECISION TO MAKE HERE, WHICH IS NOT JUST DO SYMBOLIC THINGS, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT HOW TRAGIC IT WAS THAT MR. GEORGE FLOYD AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.

BUT LET'S PROTECT AGAINST MORE OF THAT HAPPENING IN NEW JERSEY BY DOING THINGS LIKE BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, BY DOING AWAY WITH QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING GREATER TRANSPARENCY AROUND POLICE RECORDS, BY HOLDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY'RE BYSTANDERS WHEN THERE'S POLICE MISCONDUCT AND CREATING A CITIZEN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD FOR STARTERS.

AND THE LAST YEAR, NEW YORK DID SOME VERSION OF THIS.

THEN CAME NEW MEXICO, MY HOME STATE OF COLORADO DID THIS.

OTHER STATES ARE MOVING.

NEW JERSEY SHOULD BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MANY RIVERS STILL TO CROSS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> RYAN HAYGOOD, THANKS FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH US TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS NOW, PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN A COLONY OF THE UNITED STATES, A SO-CALLED FREE ASSOCIATED STATE, ACQUIRED FROM SPAIN AFTER THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR IN 1898.

SINCE 1917, PUERTO RICANS HAVE BEEN CITIZENS OF THE U.S. WITH SOME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES BUT FOLKS ON THE ISLAND CAN'T VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND HAVE NO VOTING MEMBERS IN CONGRESS.

ABOUT HALF A MILLION PUERTO RICANS LIVE IN NEW JERSEY.

ABOUT A MILLION IN NEW YORK.

MANY WITH FAMILY TIES TO THE ISLAND.

FOR DECADES NOW, THE STATUS OF PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AND SEVERAL REFERENDUMS LOOKING TO GAIN A SENSE OF THE PEOPLE'S WISHES.

THEY HAVE BEEN INCONCLUSIVE SO LAST MONTH, SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ AND OTHERS PROPOSED THE PUERTO RICO SELF-DETERMINATION ACT, IN THEORY TO FINALLY SETTLE THE STATUS QUESTION.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THAT IS FORMER "DAILY NEWS" COLUMNIST, RUTGERS PROFESSOR AND CO-HOST OF DEMOCRACY NOW ON A THOUSAND RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM PUERTO RICO BY WAY OF EAST HARLEM IN BROOKLYN, JUAN GONZALEZ.

SENOR, WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> SO TO HEAR SENATOR MENENDEZ AND HIS COSPONSORS TELL IT, THE PUERTO RICO SELF-DETERMINATION ACT IS GOING TO SETTLE THIS QUESTION.

HOW IS THIS BILL GOING TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A POSITIVE STEP AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE SECOND ATTEMPT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EARLIER BILL INTRODUCED BY DARREN, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA, AND ALSO SUPPORTED BY RICHIE TORRES, THE -- ANOTHER PUERTO RICAN WHO IS FROM THE SOUTH BRONX.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STATUS ACT AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A RESPONSE TO THAT ACT, SO WE NOW HAVE TWO COMPETING PROPOSALS IN THE CONGRESS, AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT.

I THINK THE KEY THING IS THAT EVERYONE REALIZES AFTER THE CRISES THAT PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN THROUGH AND THE IMPOSITION OF THE FINANCIAL CONTROL BOARD BY CONGRESS, THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SETTLE THE PERMANENT STATUS OF PUERTO RICO, BUT CONGRESS SEEMS UNABLE TO AGREE.

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THE PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO AGREE.

SO, I THINK THAT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I THINK THE KEY THING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BY SENATOR MENENDEZ, BACKED BY OCASIO-CORTEZ AND TWO OTHER PUERTO RICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, IS THAT IT DECLARES THAT THE -- THERE BE A COMMISSION ESTABLISHED THAT WILL COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY IS OUTSIDE THE TERRITORIAL CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S NOT -- THE UNITED STATES HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT WILL NEGOTIATE WITH THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO OVER THE FUTURE STATUS.

UP UNTIL NOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONGRESS THAT DECIDES.

CONGRESS DECIDES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHAT THE STATUS WILL BE.

SO, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD BE CREATED IN PUERTO RICO AND A COMMISSION THAT CONGRESS WOULD ESTABLISH.

SO, THAT AT LEAST RECOGNIZES THAT ALL THE PREVIOUS FORMS OF AUTONOMY FOR PUERTO RICO HAVE NOT WORKED.

>> THE MOST RECENT PLEBECITE WAS IN 2020.

IT ASKED, SIMPLY, SHOULD PUERTO RICO BE ADMITTED IMMEDIATELY INTO THE UNION AS A STATE, YES OR NO?

IT PASSED 52-47.

THAT DIDN'T SETTLE THE QUESTION, THOUGH, RIGHT?

WHY?

>> WELL, NO, IT DIDN'T SETTLE THE QUESTION BECAUSE THERE WERE -- THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF ABSTENTION IN THAT VOTE, SO THERE WAS A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE, WHEN NORMALLY ELECTIONS IN PUERTO RICO GET 80% OR MORE TURNOUT, AND SO IT'S NOT A SETTLED QUESTION, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SLIM MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO VOTED WHO DID VOTE FOR STATEHOOD.

CLEARLY, WHEN MOST TERRITORIES ARE ADMITTED INTO THE STATE OF THE UNION, WHETHER IT WAS HAWAII OR ALASKA OR ARIZONA OR NEW MEXICO, BY THE TIME THEY WERE ADMITTED, THERE WERE OVERWHELMING MAJORITIES OF THE POPULATION WERE DEMANDING STATEHOOD WHICH WOULD THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE WITH PUERTO RICO.

IT'S ONLY BEEN IN RECENT YEARS THAT THIS MOVEMENT HAS REACHED NEAR 50%.

>> WE KNOW WHAT A "YES" VOTE WOULD MEAN BUT WHAT DOES A NO VOTE MEAN?

>> WELL, NOW, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A NO VOTE FOR STATEHOOD OR -- >> YEAH.

THE QUESTION WAS, SHOULD PUERTO RICO BE A STATE, YES OR NO, AND IF YOU VOTE YES, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ONE WAY BUT IF YOU VOTE NO, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

CONTINUATION OF THE STATUS QUO?

>> WELL, IT EITHER MEANS CONTINUATION OF THE STATUS QUO, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE RECOGNIZES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE, OR IT MEANS SOME FORM OF GREATER INDEPENDENCE, WHETHER THAT MEANS FREE ASSOCIATION, WE'VE SEEN THAT THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZE AS A STEP JUST BEFORE TOTAL INDEPENDENCE, BUT WHERE THE FORMER COLONIAL TERRITORY IS RECOGNIZED AS A SOVEREIGN STATE, ENTERING INTO A UNION WITH ITS FORMER COLONIZER, AND SO THAT THERE'S -- IF THE PEOPLE VOTE NO, THEN IT'S EITHER GOT TO BE COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE OR SOME FORM OF FREE ASSOCIATION.

WHICH OBVIOUSLY -- CLEARLY IS WHAT THE OLD MUNOZ COMMONWEALTH WAS MEANT TO BE, SOME FORM OF GREATER AUTONOMY BUT STILL WITHIN SOME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES.

>> YOUR HOME IS MOSTLY HERE ON THE MAINLAND, BUT DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?

WHAT IS -- YOU WERE BORN THERE.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE STATUS OF PUERTO RICO BE?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A -- PREVIOUSLY, AS A YOUNGSTER AND IN GROWING UP, A SUPPORTER OF INDEPENDENCE FOR PUERTO RICO.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE ARE -- HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILL TO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES.

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP IS A CITIZENSHIP THAT IS -- PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD SEEK TO GET.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PUERTO RICO IS A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

IT'S GOT A DIFFERENT HISTORY, A DIFFERENT TERRITORY, A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND A DIFFERENT CULTURE.

SO HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE FACT THAT PUERTO RICO WANTS TO MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER BUT AT THE SAME TIME WANTS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT COUNTRY?

THAT'S THE QUAGMIRE AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ALWAYS HAD A MODEL FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS, WHICH IS CALLED FREE ASSOCIATION.

WHERE A TERRITORY IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING A SOVEREIGN STATE BY ITS DOMINANT STATE WITH ITS OWN RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS, ITS OWN RIGHT TO CONDUCT ECONOMIC TREATIES BUT ENTERS INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOMINANT COUNTRY WHERE THEY SHARE THE SAME MONEY, THE SAME FINANCIAL SYSTEM, THEY MIGHT HAVE COMMON MILITARY DEFENSE, BUT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A DIRECTION THAT INEVITABLY PUERTO RICO IS HEADING.

>> ALL RIGHT, JUAN GONZALEZ, WE WILL REVISIT THIS STORY AS THE YEAR GOES ON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, PROFESSOR.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> SO, FINALLY TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY THIS WEEK.

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CUT GREENHOUSE GASES IN HALF BY 2030, ONE GOOD SIGN THAT WE ARE REENGAGING WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD ON THIS ISSUE, BUT ON STREET LEVEL, IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND BIG CITIES AND SUBURBS, WE CONTINUE TO ASSAULT MOTHER EARTH WITH JUST A FEW OF US OUT THERE TRYING TO DEFEND HER.

LET'S GET THE LATEST FROM TWO PEOPLE FIGHTING THE FIGHT FOR OUR PLANET, MARIA LOPEZ-NUNEZ IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY IN NEWARK.

SHE'S ALSO RECENTLY APOINTED AS A MEMBER OF THE WHITE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU AND HAPPY EARTH DAY.

I WONDER IF EACH OF YOU COULD JUST SHARE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT THE STATE OF ENVIRONMENT, WHICH I THINK ALL OF US CAN AGREE REMAINS IN CRISIS, BUT ARE YOU HEARTENED AT ALL BY THE NEW PRESIDENT'S REEMPHASIS ON THE ENVIRONMENT?

MARIA?

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE, TO HEAR THE WORDS, YOU KNOW, BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD JUDGMENT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SEE EVERYTHING GO INTO MOTION BECAUSE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'VE HEARD NICE PROMISES BEFORE.

SO, FOR ME, I'M HOLDING OUT JUDGMENT.

>> ED?

>> WELL, WE'RE AT AN UNUSUAL TIME.

WE SEE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN STATE, NEW JERSEY, GOVERNOR MURPHY, WHO I HAVE CALLED THE GREENEST GOVERNOR, KIND OF COMING TOGETHER AND CONVERGING TO TACKLE WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT THAT WE FACE, CLIMATE CHANGE, TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDS EQUATE TO ACTIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN A TIME LIKE THIS IN THE LAST FEW DECADES.

>> MARIA, HOW MUCH DID THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SET BACK THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT?

>> I MEAN, THAT'S ALMOST A CHEAP SHOT, RIGHT?

IT WAS -- WE WERE GETTING NOWHERE.

EVERYTHING WAS GETTING ROLLED BACK.

BUT YOU KNOW, I DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD MOMENTS LIKE THIS UNDER OBAMA AS WELL.

I TRY NOT TO JUST SAY, OH, UNDER TRUMP, THINGS WERE SO BAD.

THEY WERE TERRIBLE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GO MUCH, MUCH FASTER, YOU KNOW?

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO HOLD IT HARD AND KEEP MY OPTIMISM CLOSE TO MY CHEST.

>> ED, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET EXCITED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH EFFORT WAS UNDONE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

I GUESS IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DEGREES, BUT DEGREES IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION?

>> I THINK IT'S DEGREES, BUT YOU LOOK AT EIGHT YEARS OF CHRIS CHRISTIE AND THE THINGS THAT HE DID IN OUR STATE TO PULL US OUT OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF VERY POSITIVE WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND POLLUTION AND THEN LOOK AT WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS DONE SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE, YOU KNOW, TODAY ON EARTH DAY, LOOKING AT A RESILIENCY PLAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SAFE AS SEA LEVELS RISE, AS WE SEE MORE INTENSE STORMS, AND THEN A REALLY BOLD VISION FOR 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050, FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION ON CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN OUR URBAN AREAS AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY BEEN PUTTING ACTION BEHIND THOSE WORDS.

>> MARIA, HOW ABOUT THIS GOVERNOR?

STILL SKEPTICAL?

WHAT CAN WE POINT TO ON THE PLUS AND THE MINUS SIDE FROM THIS GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK WE GOT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BILL PASSED, AND THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT ROLLOUT LOOKS LIKE AND AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BILL WAS PASSED, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE FACING A SLUDGE FACILITY AND A NATURAL GAS PLANT APPLYING FOR THEIR PERMIT, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY'S OFFICE, WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO A MORATORIUM OR SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LIVING UP TO THE SPIRIT.

ON THE PLUS, WE DID SEE WIND.

THAT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE HIS INVESTMENT IN WIND ENERGY.

I STILL WANT TO SEE MORE.

I WANT TO SEE HIM THROW INSEN RATION OUT OF CLEAN -- WHAT'S CONSIDERED CLEAN ENERGY IN OUR STATE BECAUSE THINGS LIKE CLEAN ENERGY AND NUCLEAR, THEY'RE JUST WAYS FOR US TO COVER UP THAT WE'RE NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH FOR THE PLANET AND DEFINITELY NOT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES.

>> SO, WHAT DO WE DO, POLLUTING THE WATER, THE AIR, WHICH?

>> I MEAN, CERTAINLY, INCINERATION, BEING DEFINED AS RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS NOT GOOD AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE DON'T NEED TO FUEL OUR HOMES WITH TRASH AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE SEEING THESE FACILITIES AND IT'S HARMING -- TODAY, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION OR JUST YESTERDAY, CAME OUT WITH A REPORT AND NEW JERSEY IS RECEIVING MANY FAILING GRADES ON OUR AIR AND THE HEALTH OF OUR AIR AND I THINK THAT'S THE THING WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON.

>> WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

MARIA, THE IDEA THAT CERTAIN AREAS HAVE BEEN THE DUMPING GROUND, LITERALLY, IN MOST CASES, FOR EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL ILL.

I MEAN, I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO USED TO BE FARMLAND.

NOW IT'S THE MOST INDUSTRIALIZED PART OF JERSEY CITY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT EXAMPLES IN NEWARK, MARIA, WHERE YOU SEE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE?

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT WAS CREATED BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT WAS WHITE, RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES WHEN FOLKS WHO DON'T LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THEY MIGHT LOOK OVER US.

AND FOCUS ON ISSUES LIKE CONSERVATION.

BUT IF YOU'RE LIKE IN NEWARK, YOU LOOK AT THE SKYLINE, AND YOU SEE SMOKESTACKS EVERYWHERE, YOU SEE THAT OUR RIVER IS THE LONGEST SUPER FUND SITE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED BROWN FIELD SITES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE IRON BOUND AND THAT WE HAVE TWO POWER PLANTS AND WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PORT.

THAT MEANS THAT THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS BATTLE THROUGH OUR STREETS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST ASTHMA RATES IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IS.

AND SO I'M HOPING THAT BOTH -- IF MURPHY WINS, I HOPE HE WINS AGAIN, AND THAT WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THAT WE REALLY TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND WE PROPEL IT FORWARD.

>> YOU KNOW, HEARING A LOT ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, A PLAN THAT'S GOING THROUGH CONGRESS, BUT WE REMAIN SO AUTO-CENTRIC.

EVEN NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, WHICH MOVES MORE PEOPLE AND SHOULD HELP TAKE CARS OFF THE ROAD, IT'S BUYING A FLEET OF DIESEL BUSES.

HOW MUCH OF A HEAD SCRATCHER IS THAT, MARIA?

THE IRON BOUND INTO PENN STATION.

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD -- I WOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT FOR THAT.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH OF A FOCUS ON PERSONAL ELECTRIC CARS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE -- LIKE TOTE BAGS.

WE THINK WE CAN JUST TOTE BAG OUR WAY TO A MORE JUST SOCIETY AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT, HOW DO WE GET FUNDING FOR MASS TRANSIT AND REALLY PRIORITIZE THAT AND LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, PUSH NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TO ELECTRIFY THEIR FLEET AND MOST OF ALL, MAKE TRANSIT AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE WAY TO REDUCE MIRACLE MILES TRAVELED IN THIS STATE.

>> AND IF YOU HAD TO POINT TO ONE THING THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN THE IMMEDIATE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT THEY CAN DO IN THEIR OWN HOME, LIKE REDUCING ENERGY USAGE, WATER USAGE, ENERGY EFFICIENT STANDARDS WITH LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE THAT WILL SAVE OVER $130 MILLION FOR NEW JERSEY FAMILIES BY HAVING MORE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES AND WATER USE.

AND IMPORTANTLY, VOTING.

MAKING SURE YOU LOOK AT EVERY CANDIDATE, WHERE THEIR RECORD IS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, REGISTERING TO VOTE AND MAKING SURE YOU GET OUT AND VOTE FOR THE PRO-CONSERVATION CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

>> MARIA, PUSHING POLITICIANS AND MAKING THE ENVIRONMENT AN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY DON'T JUST VOTE.

CALL YOUR POLITICIANS.

SHOW UP TO MEETINGS.

SHOW UP TO PLANNING BOARDS.

SHOW UP TO CITY HALL.

WE HAVE TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED.

WE'VE CREATED A VERY LOW BAR THAT'S JUST, VOTE.

YOU HAVE TO CIVICALLY PARTICIPATE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD OF BEING WITH THE IRON BOUND COMMUNITY CORPORATION BECAUSE WE SHOW UP EN MASSE AND LET OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNOW WHERE WE STAND ON THE ISSUES SO THAT THERE'S NO DEBATE AND THERE'S NO CONFUSION OF HOW FAR WE WANT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S THE ONLY PLANET WE GOT, FOLKS.

MARIA LOPEZ-NUNEZ, IRON BOUND COMMUNITY CORPORATION AND ED, LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON WITH US AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR TODAY.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, RYAN HAYGOOD AND JUAN GONZALEZ.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE "CHAT BOX" PLUS OTHER GREAT CONTENT LIKE "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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